A global model in sustainability legislation

Nova Friburgo, a city of just over 200,000 residents nestled in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has made history by becoming the first city in the world to officially adopt the FLOGEN Sustainability Framework as law. Located less than three hours from Rio de Janeiro, Nova Friburgo is now a global model of how local legislation can integrate world-class sustainability science.

The groundbreaking legislation was proposed by Councilman Professor Pierre and signed into law by Mayor Johnny Maycon. It is based on the FLOGEN Sustainability Framework developed by Dr. Florian Kongoli, a Canadian-American scientist and President of SIPS (the Sustainability through Science and Technology Summit). The framework was presented at the United Nations in Geneva in 2022.

The law clearly defines the three essential pillars of sustainability:

• Environmental Protection
• Social Development
• Economic Growth

And the key actors responsible for implementing them:

• Science and Technology
• Education and Civil Society
• Governance and Management

"These three criteria are equally important. If one of them is not upheld, then it is not sustainable," said Dr. Florian Kongoli.

"The players function like the legs of a table supporting the sustainability goals. If one leg is missing, the table collapses."

Why Nova Friburgo?

Nova Friburgo boasts the largest forest coverage in the Atlantic Forest biome, the most endangered of Brazil’s six biomes. With over 60% of its territory covered by forest, far exceeding the national average, the city has proven its long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship.

"Nova Friburgo is setting an example for other cities around the world," stated Councilman Pierre.

"We want to prove that it is possible to prosper while protecting the environment."

With a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.745, one of the highest in Brazil, the city also maintains a strong industrial base. This balance of economic strength and environmental responsibility makes Nova Friburgo a perfect candidate to implement and exemplify the FLOGEN model.

"An active economy allows us to invest in education and public health," added Mayor Johnny Maycon.

"By adopting the FLOGEN Sustainability Framework, we ensure our future generations can maintain this balance."

International Recognition at SIPS 2024

The new law was officially presented during SIPS 2024, the world’s premier science-based sustainability summit, which brought together over 600 scientists from more than 60 countries, including 10 Nobel Laureates.

It was located at: Out of the Blue Resort in Crete, Greece and occurred on October 20th to October 24th, 2024.

For more information, visit: www.flogen.org/sips2024